Final call for submissions

WorkCover NSW is calling for final submissions in response to its review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000.

WorkCover CEO Jon Blackwell said that although substantial public comment was received in response to an initial discussion paper released in June 2005, WorkCover is seeking further comment on five key issues:

• Clothing Outworkers
• Recognition between Safety Inspectorates
• Offences for Fraudulent Activities
• The Role of Codes of Practice in the Occupational Health and Safety Framework Controllers of Work Premises

The closing date for submissions is February 10.

"The review of the current Occupational Health and Safety legislation will enable WorkCover to continue to improve workplace safety in collaboration with industry.

"Although injury incidence rates in NSW have fallen dramatically, from 19.4 per cent in 1997-98 to 13.6 in 2003-04, representing a 16% per cent reduction in the number of major workplace injury claims, from 44,654 in 1997-98 to 37,330 in 2003-04 there are still further improvements to be made.

"A substantial contributing factor to achieving these improvements has been the co-operation of workers, employers, industry groups and unions who have worked in partnership with WorkCover and the NSW Government," Blackwell said.

The Workplace Health and Safety Strategy 2005-2008 developed through the strong support and recommendations of employer, union and other industry delegates at the 2005 Workplace Safety Summit provides WorkCover with a blueprint for future safety campaigns in areas such as manual handling, injuries from falls, psychological injury and farm safety.

WorkCover NSW will also continue to offer free advisory seminars and workshops to small and medium sized businesses to help them make workplaces safer.

A final report on the review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act will be tabled in both houses of the NSW Parliament and available on the WorkCover website by June 2006.

Copies of the Issue Papers, and further details of the Review are available from the WorkCover website www.workcover.nsw.gov.au on the OHS Act Review page.